I want one of those forced air warming hospital gowns for my house. No more warming the freezing feet on poor John.

In doing a little poking around on the internet I learned there are all different types of warming (and cooling) machines. There are machines that keep your body fluids at a certain temperature by warming them if they need it (it's like your blood flows through a tube/bag that gets warmed by a highly specialized machine). No joke.

There are machines to warm you from the underneath.. there are machines to warm the IV fluids they give you. Those actually warm up pretty quickly on thier own, BUT when you are in surgery the theory is it's actually a little less taxing on your body to get fluids that aren't refridgerator cold.

But I do like the gowns.. and I especially like that they are closed on the backside.

Here is a link to the company that makes these particular gowns:

http://www.bairpaws.com/arizanthealthcare/bp.shtml

Tuality hospital says the gowns have some benefit. While they are disposable, the hospital believes they are better for the enviroment because they aren't using so much bleach, detergent, and water to constantly wash blankets and cotton gowns. That saves them money on energy costs, and so it's seems to be a wash (ha). And if the cost is a little bit more overall, Tuality says it doesn't mind because patients are so much happier/warmer/calmer etc.

Here's a link to Tuality Hospital: http://www.tuality.com

By the way, you should NEVER just stick the hose under a blanket and turn up the heat-- that can burn you.

Share your thoughts: sstricklen@kgw.com

Amy writes that she's headed to Costa Rica Friday and is freaked out after watching that video I posted in a previous blog. I told her if she comes back with one of those hitchhikers to NOT call me to do the story.. GROSS!! ;-)

I need to tell you about Little Women.. don't let me forget. Til tomorrow!